Talisman by S.E. Akers
Startled by my reaction, Naomi followed my lead and hunkered down right beside me. “Umm . . . I take it ya know the guy?” my now eager-to-know shadow inquired.
I stared at her with a blank gaze, not knowing what to say about why my shaky rear was down here on all fours. My silence stirred her pot even more. I grabbed her arm when she started to rise and swiftly yanked her back down.
“In a roundabout way,” I finally replied.
Crap! He knows I’m HERE! What am I going to do?
“What did you say to him?” I asked, knowing any attempt to escape hinged upon her answer.
Naomi hesitated. “Nothin’ really,” she replied. “I didn’t give him your name, but I did tell him it belonged to one of our carhops.” The color began to drain from my face as I sunk even lower to the floor. “Did I say somethin’ I shouldnta said? Who the heck is he?”
Naomi kept rattling off questions, but my mind was whirling too fast to answer. I needed a plan. I had to get out of here. Taking my car was out of the question. I would have to do it on foot. I turned to her as my strategy began to take form.
“Naomi, I need you to go out there and distract him. He CAN’T see me leave,” I stressed. “My car’s parked near the side entrance, so you need to get him to move away from it. Could you do that for me?”
Naomi gladly agreed. “But who is he? What’s he wantin’?”
That was the only thing about sweet ’ole up-for-anything Naomi Perkins. She tended to be a little too nosey for her own good. Think of something…
“He might be here to umm . . . repo my car. I’m late on a few payments.” Yeah, that one was more than a stretch. Sucky-bad, in fact. An old ’69 Charger? That was my father’s first car when he was in high school… Seriously?
Naomi sprang up like a private who’d just received their marching orders. “Enough said,” she nodded. “I HATE those bastards! I’ll get ridda his good for nothin’ rear!”
Well, it wasn’t “gold”, but it was shiny enough for her to buy it.
Naomi looked around the lot and threw me a smile. “I don’t see a tow truck. Maybe ya don’t got nothin’ ta worry ’bout?” She quickly headed out the door to create a diversion while I hurried to grab my things.
Quietly, I pushed open the side door, just a fuzz. The stranger was still there, hovering like a hungry buzzard around my car. I spotted Naomi gathering up a tray from off a royal blue Mustang parked beside it. The sassy server whipped around in a wide swing and crashed straight into my stalker — spilling the leftovers all over him. It was evident by his scowl. He was not happy.
I thought she might just flirt with him a little, but that works, too… Good diversion, Naomi!
“Look what you did you stupid, BACK-WOODS TWIT!” the creepy stranger raged as he tried to wipe off the mess. His long, intimidating black leather coat now looked like something a preschooler would bring home to tack up on their mom’s fridge, what with all the ketchup, mustard, and milkshake splattered and smeared all over it. His rubbing just made it worse.
“I’m sooo sorry, Sir!” Naomi exclaimed. “I don’t know where ma head’s at this evenin’!” She took him by the arm. “Here, sugar. The little boys’ room’s this-a-way. Let’s see if we can’t get ya all spiffy again.”
My hands flew up to cover my mouth. I couldn’t help but giggle. Naomi’s performance was quite entertaining.
“I’ll do it MYSELF!” the creepy stranger growled as he jerked his arm away from her. “DON’T touch me!”
The stranger disappeared from my view, bound for the restrooms on the other side of the Drive-In. Naomi kept her eyes on him and then made a subtle “okay” gesture with her hand. I waved bye and waited until she was out of sight. When the coast was clear, I dashed into the woods behind the Drive-In with breakneck speed and headed as far away from here as supernaturally possible.
The light was fading around me as I barreled up and down the dark, mountainous terrain. I couldn’t even take pause to enjoy the last few minutes of the blazing sunset lingering in the sky. I had to keep moving, though I still didn’t have any idea where I was going. There were too many clues as to who I was and where I would most likely turn up. Going home was definitely out of the question. One thing was for sure: I had to find Tanner.
Where is he and what could be keeping him?
The sun had now officially set, and the night sky looked like another starless sea of black. I could vaguely make out my surroundings, but the farther I traveled, the more confident I was about my location. Up ahead, a bright cluster of lights hailed my eyes. The football field. I slowed to a halt and decided to hang back amongst the trees, safely out of sight. Sure enough, there was Golden Knights Stadium, nestled in a small clearing between two mountains. It looked like their practice was winding down for the evening. Guys were pouring out of the team’s locker room, headed straight for their cars. They had one more game to play next Friday against Logan High before their season would officially come to a close.
This doesn’t seem like a bad spot. I could hang out here for a bit.
While I gazed down at the field, my guilt began to rear its ugly head. Our team would have to take the field without Mike, their star quarterback. No offense to Tommy Reynolds, the team’s backup, but he passed a ball like he was playing pin the tail on the donkey. Hit or miss. And Mason Evans, their third-stringer, had as much skill as a bag of hair. The team’s undefeated season would surely come to an end. I couldn’t let that happen, even if it was Mike. I would have to heal him before next Friday night, no question about it — at least his internal injuries. But not for him — for our school, as well as the town (and YES, to alleviate some of my guilt).
That is, if Mike will even let me near him again.
From out of the corner of my eye, I spotted something moving around the edge of the field. Ty. He was running laps. I looked over at the team’s locker room. Everyone had cleared out. Ty appeared to be the only player left. I was still nervous about what to say to him, but I needed to say something. There was so much I wanted to clear up. With all the crazy things he’d witnessed, surely he had to think I was nuts. Kara’s nasty rumors probably had him thinking I was a slutty nut.
I told myself, Suck it up and get down there. What’s the worst that could happen? My voice of doubt quickly spoke up and urged, He might not be able to kick your butt, but he sure could rip out your heart!
I threw caution to the wind and hiked down through the woods until I came to the top row of bleachers on the visitors’ side. Slightly overheated from my run, I slipped off my jacket as I slowly trotted down the metal steps. The entire stadium was quiet, so the vibrations from my movements alerted Ty to my presence. He had just made another sluggish lap around the field, but his pace quickened the second he spotted me.
Ty stopped on the field, huffing and puffing. He didn’t look too bad considering Mike had slammed him face-first into a stainless-steel water fountain. Even slightly swollen and bruised, his hotness couldn’t be denied.
“Shiloh? What are you doing here?” Ty asked.
Since he seemed more surprised than anything else, I took that as a good sign. I couldn’t necessarily tell him the real reason, so I opted for partial disclosure.
“I need to talk to you,” I announced. “About all the crazy things people have been spreading around . . . about me.”
“Just the rumors, or are you going to fill me in on some of your ‘crazy’ behavior?” Ty questioned.
Crap… He does think I’m nuts. Without hesitation, I shifted my stare towards the field, avoiding any and all eye contact.
Ty hopped over the chain-link fence and climbed the bleachers. He was by my side before I knew it.
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” Ty said as he gently turned my face to his. “But this has been one crazy week, don’t you agree?” he asked matter-of-factly. “I know the past several days have been rough, b
There was no denying anything he’d just said. Straightaway, I tossed my things onto the bleachers and sat down.
“Where do you want to start?” I asked with a compliant sigh.
Ty flashed me a curious grin. “Seriously?”
“Fire away,” I insisted and motioned for him to sit.
Ty started to lower himself down, but he paused abruptly. “You’re not going to run off, are you?”
After a direct roll of my eyes, I grabbed his arm and then jerked him down beside me.
“I guess I’d better,” Ty acknowledged with a grin. “I’d hate for you to kick my ass.”
My lips pressed out an uncomfortable smile. I suppose I deserve that one.
“What was up with that anyway?” Ty asked.
“I was just giving Mike a little payback for what he did to you,” I replied defensively.
Ty nodded and smiled. “Yeah, but . . . how did you know what he did? You weren’t in the locker room.”
Think fast…
“No . . . But I saw him wiping some blood off his hand when he came out. Good assumption?”
Let’s see how that one flies…
Ty let that one roll around for a few seconds. “Okay, maybe . . . But Shiloh, when I got to the gym floor, you didn’t just shove him like a typical girl—um, no offense—you tossed him like you were throwing a wadded up paper ball into a trash can. There was no effort. I couldn’t have done that . . . not even with the weight-training program I’m on.” He continued to shake his head. “HOW did you do it?”
“A rush of adrenaline?” I replied innocently.
By the look on Ty’s face, I could tell he was fighting a battle between wanting to believe me, and his own skepticism. I knew what side I wanted to win.
“Possibly,” Ty speculated.
We sat for a moment in silence. I assumed he was debating about “what to ask next”.
Ty nudged my shoulder. “You know, I heard his nose is broken.”
I cringed on the spot.
“Oh, and a couple of his ribs are cracked too,” Ty continued, forcing my head to lower in shame. He patted my back. “Don’t beat yourself up over it.”
I shook my head and pursed my lips after hearing his playful, yet warranted jab.
“Personally, I think his busted lip looks the worst . . . especially with that missing tooth,” Ty added.
Without delay, I whipped my head around. “I didn’t lay a finger on his mouth!” I insisted.
Ty grinned. “No . . . But I did.”
The weight of my bottom lip had my chin sinking into my neck.
“Come on, Shi. I had to get in at least one jab for the way he jumped me like that. Why do you think I’ve been out here runnin’ laps for the past two and a half hours?” Ty bragged.
The two of us sat there laughing for a moment, knowing it was much easier to find some humor in it now, especially since I’d resigned myself to the notion of healing Mike to clear my conscience. But I’ll let him suffer with his injuries…for a few more days.
Soon our amusement dwindled, and we found ourselves sitting in stifling haze of awkward silence. The handsome jock seemed to be wrestling with something else he wanted to ask.
“So what’s next on your list of talking points?” I blurted.
Ty raised his brow. “Um, about last Saturday night . . . ”
I nervously awaited his question. Is he going to bring up the fact that I ran off, right as we were about to kiss?
“I’m still curious about . . . the rattlesnake,” Ty stressed.
I breathed a silent sigh of relief.
“I think it’s more than just a coincidence that two huge rattlers had their sights set on you, on the same day, don’t you?” he speculated. I was unquestionably quiet, and he picked up on it. “Especially since you said that Mr. Estell was in Bea’s neighborhood staring at you.”
I mustered my best clueless look and gave my shoulders an innocent shrug.
“You know he’s a member of that snake-handling church in Jolo, right?” Ty remarked.
He was, I mused to myself.
“I think he did it,” Ty charged, “but I haven’t figured out why he would.”
I needed to play this one off — fast. “That’s an interesting theory,” I pondered aloud. “But what would he have against me? I don’t even know the man.”
“Beats me,” Ty replied. “But the next time I see him wandering around Welch, I’m planning on asking him.”
I don’t have to worry about that happening. Ty noticed the quick shudder my frame had rocked out and immediately draped his arm around my shoulders.
“Don’t worry. It won’t happen again,” Ty vowed.
How sweet. He’s thinking that I’m scared when I’ve been sitting here trying to get the image of Mr. Estell’s severed head out of my mind for the past few seconds.
“Oh, I’m not worried,” I interjected confidently. Ty just sat there and shook his head.
We hadn’t addressed any of the rumors floating around yet. Maybe he thought it might be too embarrassing…or maybe he was saving the best for last? Either way, I couldn’t take the suspense, so I decided to broach the subject.
“I’m not sure what Kara told you today, but—”
Ty interrupted, “Shi, I know how rumors fly around the halls at school. I was always told to believe none of what you hear and half of what you see. But I’ll admit at first, the thought of you and Mike kis—”
Now it was my turn to cut him off. “We did not kiss!” I insisted with the emphatic blare of a bullhorn. “He may have gotten the wrong idea and leaned in to kiss me, but it NEVER happened!” Surely the repulsed gesture that involuntarily slipped out was enough to clear his doubts. “Just the thought of Mike Riverside going down in my mental memory book as my FIRST KISS makes my skin crawl!”
Ty seemed both surprised and intrigued by my “first kiss” confession, which in hindsight made me wish I’d omitted that last part. My eyes fell to a slow and purposeful close. Talk about feeling mortified…
“Well I can certainly relate,” Ty said with a stifled laugh. “He’s not the only guy you’ve shied away from when it comes to that.”
Now I just wanted to crawl under the bleachers. I hadn’t intended to run off from Ty, far from it, but I still couldn’t be totally honest about what had happened. The evening was full of insane premonitions. They had my mind so jumbled as to what was real and what was yet to be. However, I was sure of one thing — from the moment he led me onto the dance floor, I knew exactly where I wanted to be…in his arms. Needing to uncoil my muscles, I jumped up and started walking down the bleachers.
“Is that the same reason you ran away the other night? Did the thought of kissing me make you feel like that?” Ty questioned.
My eyes widened as I spun around. “No,” I replied adamantly. Upon hearing and observing my rigid response, a beaming smile emerged on Ty’s face that sent my cheeks straight into a flush. “I didn’t run off because of anything like that — I swear.” I hopped off the bottom step and began strolling around the field.
Ty laughed. “You’re running away right now,” he called out.
I turned and hinted a playful grin. “No, I’m walking . . . and did anyone say you couldn’t follow?”
Ty rose from the stands and started to head my way while I continued my slow pace along the outside edge of the field. It didn’t take him long to catch up with me. The two of us strolled around the football field in silence until we reached the end zone. Then Ty jumped ahead of me and reached around to grab the chain-link fence, blocking my path. I had no other choice but to stop. As I looked up at him, I spied the reflection of the stadium’s bright lights dancing within his dreamy blue eyes. Their heightened
Ty leaned closer. “How do you feel right now?” he asked, his voice soft and velvety.
My heart was practically pounding right out of my chest, but I tried to play it as cool as possible. Of course that curious, yet sly look on his face wasn’t helping. He knew I wanted him to kiss me. My body language had sent him that message, loud and clear.
“You won’t know until you try,” I suggested, rather boldly.
Ty leaned closer, but abruptly paused and pulled back slowly. His stare fell to his sweat-stained tracksuit and then reconnected with my eyes, now looking a little embarrassed himself.
“Let me run in and hit the showers,” he grinned. “It’ll just take a second, okay? Just wait here.”
“Okay,” I replied as I tried to subdue the goofy smile creeping across my face.
Ty jogged over to the team’s locker room and stopped as he pulled open the door. He turned back around and called out, “I’m serious — DON’T run off!”
“I won’t,” I assured him with a flirtatious smile and a resolute stretch of my eyes.
My enthusiasm took hold as I watched him disappear into the team’s locker room, and my smile was no longer containable. Even my emotions were running rampant. Without realizing, I was clutching the top bar of the chain-link fence, trying to balance myself. I felt excited, nervous, and even somewhat giddy like this was a dream. After the day I’d had, if someone told me that I would be alone with Ty at Golden Knights Stadium, about to finally take part in one of a girl’s rites of passage, I would’ve thought they were beyond crazy. I smiled as I thought about how resistant I was to being “normal” for a day.
I did need this after all…
My mind lingered with thoughts of a freshly showered Tyler Smith emerging from the locker room while I waited. The vision of his hair all tousled and wet, his skin glistening and dewy, those blue stunners gleaming, and the intoxicating scent of Acqua di Gio cologne wafting from his hard-bodied frame left me undeniably riveted. I felt myself getting more aroused with every passing second. I tried to calm down, but that was next to impossible with the reality of the boy I’d had a crush on forever taking me into his arms to feather my lips with kisses spinning my head. Unfortunately, my delightfully decadent daydream came to an abrupt end just as soon as I heard someone behind me clearing their throat — quite crossly, in fact.
“WALLACE! Suspension from school includes ALL school property,” the familiar voice scoffed.
As I stood there staring out at the field, my hands automatically tightened around the top rail of the metal fence. Coach Hayes… He was the last person I wanted to see (with the exception of Lazarus and my newly-acquired creepy stalker). I kept my back turned so he couldn’t see the disgusted glare in my eyes. Son-of-a-Bitch…
“I’m waiting on Ty. I’ll be gone before you know it,” I assured him.
I could feel his approach, but I remained still. He was now propped against the fence, standing right beside me. My pouty stare fell to the ground. Why did HE have to come along and ruin this perfect moment?
“You know, I don’t particularly care for punishments like suspensions,” Coach Hayes acknowledged. “I’ve always been a big believer in something else . . . ”
I really couldn’t have cared less about anything the surly old coach had to say, but the fact that he never finished his thought and was now painfully silent struck me as odd. Curiosity inevitably got the best of me.
“Oh yeah . . . What’s that?” I asked with a flippant tilt of my head.
As soon as he turned towards me, I caught a subtle whiff of a peculiar odor and then his expression darkened on the spot.
“An eye for an eye,” he roared in a menacing voice. Coach Hayes’ eyes were now as black as night. My nostrils flared from the pungent stench of sulfur, and in less than a second, my own peepers exploded with streaks of fiery white light.
Oh, shit! The Onyx!
The next thing I knew, the Onyx had locked his stinging grasp around my neck and was swooping me up off the ground. I tried desperately to break free from his vicious chokehold, but his painful clasp was wickedly unyielding. Without any effort, he catapulted me over the fence, where I crashed into the goal post. The crushing blow threw me for a loop. Dazed, I found myself lying amid a mangled mess of metal. The force of the strike, combined with my indestructible bones, had twisted the goal post into an unrecognizable shape.
Before I could get to my feet, the possessed body of “Coach Hayes” had already scooped me up and sent me flying across the field. I crash-landed in the Home section’s metal bleachers. Though my bones and skin remained very much intact, I was still in a lot of pain from being knocked around with the amount of force the Onyx was using. The press box was just a few feet above me. I turned to spot my fiendish attacker charging into the stands. Speedily, I jumped up and raced towards the side door of the structure, praying it was unlocked. It wasn’t, but managed to open the slab soon enough with a powerful kick and slammed it shut no sooner than I darted inside.
Several loud “bangs” pounded on the door. Luckily it had another deadbolt, so I was able to lock it, but it took all of my strength pressing against the wooden panel to keep the Onyx from busting through. Then in a sudden and unexpected turn, the relentless pounding ceased almost eerily. I stepped away from the door and waited for the Onyx to make his next move. I didn’t even breathe. My eyes scanned around the narrow, dimly lit space. The lights from the football field were streaming only a small amount of light into the press box.
I sucked in a harsh rush of air when the outdoor field lights suddenly went out. My eyes narrowed as I crept towards the long window that spanned the length of the dark room. I couldn’t see much. The only lights that remained were the ones at the opposite ends of the field, illuminating the locker rooms and the concession stand. There wasn’t the slightest movement of any kind, and the Onyx was nowhere to be found.
Anxiety wrenched my nerves as I scanned the field. I wasn’t fairing very well against my cunning assailant. I looked over at the locker rooms and pictured Ty’s astonishment when he stepped outside. He would be helpless against the supernatural being’s attack. Surely this thing couldn’t leave any witnesses after killing me. I had to get back out there. Something struck my shoulder blade when I backed up, forcing me to whip around. It was a wooden ladder that led up to a small door in the roof. I looked out the window one last time and then clamored up the ladder, pausing to unlock the latch. Gradually, I raised the hatch while I kept a watchful eye on my surroundings.
Without warning, I was yanked the rest of the way out of the press box and thrown down onto the roof. The Onyx had anticipated my next move and had been waiting for me the entire time.
The body of “Coach Hayes” lunged at me. The Onyx’s grasp was A LOT more formidable than I remembered. No doubt about it. The diamond’s energy was intensifying my assailant’s powers, causing the pain to be nothing less than unbearable. We soon found ourselves locked in a violent game of tug-of-war. Our bodies rocked back and forth while he tried his best to keep me pinned. Not only did I have to muster all of my strength to defend myself, but I also had to mentally block out the excruciating pain from his slightest touch.
One of the Onyx’s hands broke free from my hold. Not a sad second later, the hand of “Coach Hayes” was driving his college football ring into the left side of my face. The diamonds on the ring were able to penetrate my skin. My face was stinging from the brutal gash, and I felt blood flowing down my cheek. I clenched my teeth and let out a long grunt in an attempt to muffle my screams from the searing slash. I couldn’t let Ty hear me. After all, there was nothing he could do to stop my supernatural attacker.
As my anger swelled, so did the sky. Suddenly, thunder began to roar around us, and the clouds stirred with fury — mine. Just as Tanner had revealed the other d
Where is he?
With a vigilant eye, I hopped over the chain-link fence and headed towards the center of the field. I spun around and scanned the entire stadium. Though I felt undeniably exposed out there on the 50-yard line, I figured I could at the least see the Onyx’s next blitz coming and eliminate any unexpected surprises — this time.
I summoned another bolt of lightning, which I caught and kept ready to cast if needed. I continued to survey the field in all directions, confident that the Onyx had escaped unscathed but still optimistic.
Could the lightning’s force have made him retreat? Maybe the Onyx felt threatened? The mistake of underestimating my attacker could be disastrous, so I kept up my guard.
I heard a noise coming from the locker room. I spun around to hear a thumping sound resonating from the door. Ty.
“Shi? What the Hell’s going on out there?” Ty yelled as he banged on the door. “THE DOOR’S LOCKED!”
Without a doubt, he’d heard the ruckus going on outside. I hesitated. I had to get him out of there, but I wasn’t sure if it was safe, not to mention, how the heck I was going to explain what had happened to the football field.
Cautiously, I headed towards the locker room. A jolting vibration under my feet stopped me dead in my tracks. Then from out of nowhere, a mound of earth humped up under the turf in the end-zone, roughly three feet high and lying directly in my path. It was horrifyingly clear what it was. The Onyx. Like Gallia, the Onyx was an earth stone. He’d been underneath the ground waiting for me the entire time.
Confidently, I hurled the crackling bolt at the pile of earth. I watched, now wretchedly disappointed, as the blast of electricity had no effect on him. The mound of turf and dirt rose with a swift heave and then started barreling a path straight towards me. The Onyx was deep underground and undoubtedly well protected. I quickly turned to run in the opposite direction. I rallied another lightning bolt while I dashed down the field and slung it at the relentless mass that was tunneling towards me like a high-speed train.
Shit! NOTHING! I’d hit the spot on the ground directly, but the Onyx remained on course.
As I approached the end zone, I zeroed in on the standing goal in front of me. The aluminum goal post had to have been set several feet under the ground. So now I had a plan. Once I’d reached the end zone, I leaped up onto the crossbar and conjured up one more bolt. This time, I aimed it at the goal post. When the lightning struck, the metal carried the hazardous volts of electricity deep under the ground. I held on and watched as the field just under the post erupted into a large explosion. A horrifying scream pierced the air as I witnessed the Onyx flying up from underneath the earth in a cloud of dirt, turf, and dust. Then the very filthy body of “Coach Hayes” went sailing backward, headed towards the middle of the field. With the sounds of Ty trying to bust out of the locker room echoing in my ears, I hurried to the other end of the field. Coach Hayes’ body was lying facedown on the 50 yard-line — smack in the center of its painted Golden Knight emblem. As I approached, the Onyx scrambled up off the ground. I gasped when he turned around. Coach Hayes’ body was badly battered, singed, and very bloody. And that’s when the horrifying realization truly hit me: whatever force I used to attack the Onyx would inevitably kill Coach Hayes.
The Onyx let out a menacing laugh. I watched as the ailing body of Coach Hayes staggered around me in a circle.
“You know what I want,” the Onyx bellowed and continued to cackle. “I’ll give you one chance to save this man’s life. I can feel his heartbeat slowing. Surrender the powers of the wand to me, and I’ll let him live. You don’t want his death to mar your soul? Do you?”
The Onyx’s proposal was out of the question. I couldn’t just hand over what I’d been told was “the most powerful weapon on earth” to him, but I couldn’t let Coach Hayes die either. Hell, my conscience was reeling with enough guilt about the injuries I’d inflicted on Mike Riverside. I couldn’t imagine how horrid I would feel living with the fact that I’d been indirectly responsible for an innocent man’s death. Granted he was a prick, and he’d been screwing around with Charlotte behind Daddy’s back. But even knowing all that, I found myself faced with a terrible dilemma. Instantly I thought about Daddy, and how he had died trying to protect me, and the wand from being discovered. Even he knew how important it was for the diamond not to fall into the wrong hands. My head lowered as I resigned myself to the fact that I would go to my grave with Coach Hayes’ possible death weighing on my soul.
I guess there’s always therapy, I pondered with a hefty twinge of skepticism.
I lifted my head. “Not possible,” I replied firmly.
The Onyx’s laugh intensified. The sound of Ty’s persistent bangs on the metal door rang out. The Onyx looked towards the locker room and then redirected his stare back at me. The cold, black eyes of “Coach Hayes” rolled around as he sneered.
“Fine by me . . . But maybe after I discard this body, I’ll occupy one you do care about,” the fiend vowed.
My eyes exploded in a panic. Ty… The Onyx would surely possess Ty to get to me. Shit! Where the Hell is Tanner? Or even Bea?
I let out a sigh, making the Onyx well aware that he’d hit the right button. Sadly, there wasn’t a foreseeable option. I shifted restlessly while I pondered the ramifications of what I was about to do. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that whatever evil and mayhem ensued from surrendering the wand’s powers, it would be irreversibly horrific, and Daddy’s death would have been in vain. While my eyes roamed around the stadium, I spotted my things still lying on the bleachers where I’d left them.
My jacket…
Hastily, I turned back to the Onyx. “You’ll let Coach Hayes live . . . and you won’t harm Ty?”
“But of course,” the Onyx assured in a wickedly soothing voice.
“What about me?” I queried skeptically.
The Onyx’s brow furrowed. “That, naïve girl, is something I simply cannot do. Once a Talisman, always a Talisman. I’m afraid it’s in your blood. I can’t have you trying to steal back the wand’s powers, now can I?”
That’s what I figured. While the sounds of the thunder rumbled above us, I took a deep breath and stepped towards the Onyx.
“How does this work?” I scowled.
“Take my hand in yours and tell the wand to release you from your bond,” the Onyx replied eagerly. “Then the diamond’s power will pass to me.”
The Onyx extended his hand in a fluent, yet sinister fashion. With a slow and hesitant cringe, I attempted to take a hold of it, only to quickly jerk my hand back from the agonizing stab of his knife-like touch.
“Sorry about that,” the Onyx laughed. “You’ll just have to fight through the pain.” The Onyx continued to cackle and added, “But I promise you, it doesn’t sting nearly as bad as your hands being set ablaze from the touch of a ruby.” The Onyx held up Coach Hayes’ hands and scowled. “What is it you teenagers say? Oh, yes — That hurts like a bitch.”
I glared back at him as I took a deep breath to prepare myself for the painful jolt. I clutched the Onyx’s hand firmly. Not only did it hurt like utter hell, but every ounce of evil the supernatural being radiated was being forced through the receptors in my brain. It was hard to stomach.
“Now! Do it! SAY IT!” the Onyx screamed.
Just as I pulled out my hand, the Onyx seized my arm and effortlessly tossed me back onto the football field. No sooner than I’d landed, I looked up to see my fiendish attacker charging towards me at high-speed. I felt one stone cupped in the palm of my hand. There was no time to look at it. I could only pray I’d retrieved the right one.
Just as the Onyx lunged at me, I drew back my arm and then pitched the stone directly at him. As soon as it struck, a cloud of electrically charged, light-blue smoke burst from the stone’s core and started swirling around the Onyx. A blood-curdling scream erupted from the mouth of “Coach Hayes”. The possessed vessel fell to the ground and then rocked back and forth, convulsing and shrieking. Without warning, a streak of billowy black smoke jutted out of Coach Hayes’ chest and then took off like a whirlwind, howling as it disappeared into the night. The Onyx finally was gone…at least for now.
Thank you, Gallia! The appreciation I felt for the blue chalcedony stone and the little Talisman who had given it to me was immeasurable.
How in the heck do you send a supernatural a thank you note?
I rushed over to Coach Hayes’ lifeless body. I could hear Ty (whose “bangs” were much louder) clearly using something with a little more substance to pound against the locker room door. Frantically, I shook Coach Hayes, fearing Ty would come busting through it at any second. I grabbed his wrist and felt for a pulse. The faint pushback I sensed thumping my fingertips couldn’t have come as more of a relief, however, I needed him much more alert.
I can’t hang around here. Coach Hayes won’t remember anything, thankfully…but I can’t explain an injured coach and a destroyed stadium to Ty.
I hurried over to the sidelines and grabbed the large orange cooler. I couldn’t help but shrug and crack a little smile as I shook it. What the hell… Then I raced back over to Coach Hayes and dumped the icy-cold Gator-aide all over him. The semi-conscious coach’s body shot into a fierce shiver as he rolled around on the ground, grappling with both the icy shock and his lingering injuries.
Just then, a loud “BANG” cut through the night air, and the locker room door came flying open. I grabbed my jacket off the ground, raced up the bleachers, and dashed into the woods above the stadium. I wasn’t sure if Ty had caught a glimpse of me or not. Surely he was probably wondering by now where I was and what the heck happened to both the stadium and Coach Hayes. I’d run off yet again, but with good reason this time. A nagging feeling crept over me as I bolted up and down the mountains. And then it hit me. Damn! I forgot my purse! Talk about leaving evidence at the scene of the crime. I couldn’t go back for it. My only hope was that it had fallen under the bleachers when The Onyx had grabbed me.
I headed for the only safe place I could think of — the cave. Hopefully, Tanner would eventually turn up there, or maybe he was already there waiting for me?
As I weaved a heated path through the thick forest, I couldn’t stop thinking about how I’d just narrowly escaped with my life, not to mention Coach Hayes’ and possibly Ty’s. After last night’s adventure, I knew I would be faced with the reality of my safety being in question, without fail. However, the thought that innocent people’s lives could randomly come into play, especially those I cared about, was a heart-wrenching predicament. My own father’s death was a testament to that fact. Everyone I cared about would ultimately become my greatest personal liability… and that was a cold slap of reality if there ever was one!
I reached the cave and waved my hand, magically revealing its entrance. As soon as enough of the rock and dirt had shifted away, I darted into the shadowy opening and closed myself inside the earthy walls of my temporary sanctuary. The farther I trekked down the rocky spiral staircase, the heavier the evening’s events weighed. I hoped Ty would forgive me. Of course, it wasn’t like I could call him to apologize. My cell was in my purse…wherever that was.
I hope no one finds it, or I’ll sure have A LOT of explaining to do. Just add “vandal” to my growing list of offenses.
I continued down the steps, aching from my battle with the Onyx. Though none of my bones were broken, they still throbbed from each and every one of his blows. Even now my skin carried a slight burn, still irritated from that wickedly painful touch he packed. The side of my face had stopped bleeding, but the gash was gaping open and stung like hell. The power of being invincible certainly didn’t include pain-free, that was for sure. The Onyx was much stronger than before. It was upsettingly evident how another Talisman’s abilities could intensify when in my presence. Now that was a major bugger of a consequence if there ever was one.
I called out for Tanner as soon as I’d reached the bottom. Not here either. Disappointed, I paced back and forth. Where is he? I knew he had to keep an eye on Lazarus, but he was able to make plenty of time for me before. Maybe I didn’t perform the telepathy trick correctly? Of course, I don’t have anyone to ask…because he’s NOT HERE! I stomped around like a toddler for a few seconds. I’m being ridiculous. I laughed at my actions as I thought about how funny it was that I’d gotten so attached to him. Maybe because I miss Daddy?
Though he was a bit of an ass and playfully cheeky most of the time, Tanner had really grown on me and not just because of any supernatural bond or the fact that he was teaching me about my powers. I truly enjoyed his company. Even though he insisted on calling me a little girl, I never felt like one around him — not even for a second. His absence was not only perplexing, but it also left me feeling strangely melancholy, almost like I’d been abandoned again. After all, I hadn’t heard from him, and I had to fend off the Onyx all by myself. I guessed I thought somewhere in the back of my mind that he would have rushed in to help me. It wasn’t like I had a ton of experience under my belt. It was just last night when Tanner had to rescue me from an unearthly, deranged 25-foot diamond-fanged rattler.
Maybe he doesn’t think I need him? Maybe he’s finished with my training and telling me to go back to school was really part of his exit strategy? Humph! He didn’t even say good-bye! I found myself getting a little too worked up and swiftly told myself, Maybe you need to get some rest so you can look for him in the morning, idiot! I could see if I didn’t force myself to catch some Z’s, I’d be up for hours on end, reading too much into the reason behind the Amethyst Talisman’s absence.
I folded up my jacket and tossed it on the ground. Though despite my exhaustion, I couldn’t stop staring at the wand with a determined gleam. Intrigued, I climbed the rock formation where it lay imprisoned. When I touched the diamond this time, its glow seemed more intense for some reason.
As I ran my fingers along one of its smooth sides, I began to wonder, Is it possible I’m ready? I know my powers have strengthened, and I did just successfully fend off the Onyx tonight.
I paused to take an eager, deep breath. What the heck…
Carefully, I wrapped both of my hands around its shaft. One quick, firm yank should do it. I was heedful to the fact that my hands couldn’t slide along the edges of the blade-like wand. They had to remain perfectly still. I could just picture this not working and Tanner finding me with several fingers missing — or worse. Talk about getting caught red-handed. I attempted to release the wand from its rocky cradle with every ounce o
Disappointed, I plopped down onto the rocks below. I supposed it was wishful thinking that had fueled my desire to take another crack at it. Clearly I still wasn’t ready. The diamond wand knew it. I felt like I was trapped in a doorway, not fully knowing whether I should enter or turn around and run the other way. If I took that step inside, a whole new world was waiting for me. Not only did I have the awesome power of the wand, but also I found the allure of not knowing what was to come positively thrilling. No one ever knows what their future will hold, but I’d been planning mine for years. Study, graduate High School, college, study some more, get a degree, and then secure good a job. That was the plan. It had sounded exciting enough. I’d been so focused on its basic components that I hadn’t given any consideration to the future’s funny way of being unpredictable. No one ever thinks about that. I’d always tried to avoid such thoughts (if it all possible), but it was now the unpredictability of “what could be” that I found so exhilarating. However, “the unknown” went hand-in-hand with the dicey part that had me tied up in knots. Just look at what happened tonight. Someone I cared about could’ve gotten hurt again — all because of the wand. That thought would always haunt me, and not to mention, having to actually “kill” someone.
Could I even do it? Possibly — if my life was threatened. But someone possessed? Just treat them like they’re nothing more than collateral damage? Regardless of who it was, the “killing part” plagued me the most. Sure, I knew I wanted Lazarus Xcavare dead. He’d murdered my father. But when or if the time ever came, Would I be able to do it? Would my soul allow it? I was still wrought with guilt over kicking Mike’s ass. Who knows how bad I’ll feel over taking someone’s life? Tanner would have to supply me with an endless amount of his soothing supernatural amethysts. That seemed like an inevitable fact.
This was my dilemma and undeniably, the wand was well aware of it. I knew I had to make that final decision — one way or another. Who knows when that’ll be and whatever decision I make, how will I know it’s the right one? Since the wand hadn’t released itself to me, surely over time even it would eventually question my commitment of being its life-long owner and possibly decide on its own to absolve me from my destine duties. Being “iffy” was certainly out of the question.
The Indecisive Talisman, I thought, shaking my head. I was agitated by the thought of years passing by and the damn thing would still be sitting there. Beatrix was right. Things would be a heck of a lot easier if I had its hilt. Even after dreaming about it last night, it still seemed so unattainable. My attitude took an abrupt turn towards snarky. I shook my head and thought, Who knows where that thing is hidden? You’d think the great “Adamas” could’ve left a note.
My eyes fell on the earthy floor, feeling downhearted. To my left lay my jacket that I’d tossed on the ground. I scooted over, reached inside its right pocket, and pulled out my two remaining stones — the amethyst and the serpentine. Luck was definitely on my side earlier when I’d grabbed the blue chalcedony and not one of the other ones.
I should’ve kept them on me… Not sitting up in the bleachers inside my jacket… Idiot! Good thing I didn’t put them in my purse. I would’ve NEVER found them in there! Instinctively, I decided to place both stones in the front pocket of my jeans for safekeeping. There… Safe and most important, easily accessible.
I bunched up my jacket and threw my makeshift-pillow behind my head as I curled up against the rocks. I found myself struggling to get to sleep and spent quite a bit of time rooting around for a comfortable position, though I knew that wasn’t what was keeping me awake.
I took a deep breath in an effort to clear my mind. There in the quiet and dimly lit cave, the reason behind my unrest surfaced — my “one question”. The very one that lingered in the back of my mind, even when all the others had been securely tucked way. This question, I feared, would torment me until I had my answer.
Why? Why me? Many people have gone to their graves with those three letters hanging over their heads like a storm cloud, showering them with torturous speculation and grueling doubt. Why, of all the people in the world, was “I” destined for this bittersweet gift?
Before long, I had succumbed to the night, not to mention, my physical exhaustion. My slumber was extremely restless. What should I have expected? I was lying on the ground, propped up with my jacket against some hard rocks, while thoughts of the Onyx drifted in and out of my head all night. Every time my heavy lids fell to a close, I saw his sinister dark eyes staring back at me — and each time, they were set on the face of someone I cared about.
As I lay there dreaming, I felt something land in the open gash on my face that the Onyx had graciously given me. It really stung (assuredly a little too much for just a dream). Then something hit my lips, leaving them wet. As I pressed them together, I detected a familiar taste. Salt. I moved my hand up to comfort my stinging cheek when I felt something there. A hand. The warmth of its touch seemed too life-like to be just a dream. Alarmed, I snapped out of my slumber and jerked myself up to find Tanner sitting on the ground beside me, staring at me with a tender look in his eyes. He held a wet cloth in his hand. Apparently he’d been nursing my wound while I slept. I smiled back at him, convinced I was starting to grow on my mentor.
Maybe he’ll start showing more of his compassionate side, instead of his cheeky attitude and constant wisecracks?
I’d barely wrapped up my hopeful plea to the cosmos when the Amethyst Talisman’s comforting gaze shifted into a look I’d come to know far too well.
“So?” Tanner began, “I take it the home team won the game?”
Chapter 22